Topic: Portuguese

"O meu primo trabalha numa padaria."

Translation:My cousin works in a bakery.

February 18, 2013

8 Comments

https://www.duolingo.com/lathedawg

    Could you also say "meu primo trabalha numa padaria"? I don't see the point of the "O" at the beginning of the sentence.

    March 10, 2013
    https://www.duolingo.com/lindsey91

      Is "numa" actually written, or purely colloquial?

      February 18, 2013
      https://www.duolingo.com/erudis
      • 2183

      Yes. The contraction is almost always used in Portugal, and still common in Brazil.

      February 19, 2013
      https://www.duolingo.com/lindsey91

        But just to clarify, would you see it in a newspaper/formal writing?

        February 19, 2013
        https://www.duolingo.com/erudis
        • 2183

        In Portugal yes, in Brazil the non-contracted form is probably more common, some authors believe the contractions don't sound "elegant", but it's not wrong either, just a matter of personal preference.

        February 19, 2013
        https://www.duolingo.com/quadrivium

          What would it look like in non-contracted from?

          March 1, 2013
          https://www.duolingo.com/lindsey91

            "O meu primo trabalha em uma padaria."

            March 1, 2013
            https://www.duolingo.com/lathedawg

              Could you also say "meu primo trabalha numa padaria"? I don't see the point of the "O" at the beginning of the sentence.

              March 10, 2013
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